Columbus, GA – 3,119 fans filled the Columbus Civic Center, where the Columbus River Dragons and the Mississippi Sea Wolves showed everyone what hockey is supposed to look like – fast puck movement, hard hits, heated exchanges, shifting momentum, and great shots on the net.
The Sea Wolves came to play against the River Dragons, currently running on a 9-game win streak.
Breandan Colgan, activated from IR, made ten saves in the first period for the River Dragons. Blake Weyrick kept fifteen shots out of his net as well.
Dmitri Kuznetsov was called for high-sticking at 19:46 in the first period, allowing Columbus the strong-man advantage at the start of the second period.
At :14, Alex Storjahann put Columbus on the board with an assist by Justin MacDonald and Austin Daae. Not to be outdone, Mississippi struck back at :36 when Joakim Nilsson scored with an assist by Yianni Liarakos and Hugo Koch.
After several penalties, ultimately resulting in a 3-on-3 match-up, Columbus capitalized as they regained their fourth man. At 4:02, Josh Pietrantonio put one in the net off the assist by Alex Storjahann and Kyle Moore.
At 5:47, Matt Stoia took advantage of the River Dragons’ disorganized defense and tied the game at 2-2 with assists by Hugo Koch and Yianni Liarakos.
12:18 into the second frame of play, Kyle Russell gave the Sea Wolves their first lead of the night when he scored on assist by Hugo Koch and Matt Stoia.
The game was quickly tied back up at 13:51, when Nolan Slachetka scored with Alexander Jmaeff and Kirk Underwood’s assist.
With 19:22 played in the second frame, Ryan Hunter put the Dragons back on top with an assist by Kyle Moore.
At the conclusion of the second period, the Columbus River Dragons led Mississippi 4-3. After the expiration of the game clock, Hunter Bersani and Yianni Liarakos engaged in a scuffle, causing both teams to enter the third period with only four men on the ice.
As play resumed at the start of the third period, the Dragons put the Sea Wolves on their heels, attacking the zone with full force. The River Dragons were penalized twice, with Ryan Hunter and Nolan Slachetka sent to the box.
At 2:30, Hugo Koch tied the game on a power play goal, assisted by Yianni Liarakos and Matt Stoia.
Columbus pulled ahead again at 9:33 when Alexander Jmaeff scored the River Dragons’ fifth goal, on an assist by Nathan Balkwill and Kirk Underwood.
In an effort to all but end the game, Columbus tallied on a sixth goal, scored by Kyle Moore from an assist by Justin MacDonald at 11:13.
At 13:18, Yianni Liarakos swung back at the River Dragons, scoring the Sea Wolves fifth goal on the assist by Matt Stoia.
Matt Stoia tied the game, 6-6, on an assist by Yianni Liarakos at 15:40.
At the end of regulation, the Mississippi Sea Wolves caught up to the Columbus River Dragons, resulting in a sudden-death 3-on-3 overtime.
Justin MacDonald won the game for the River Dragons, scoring on a well-laid assist by Josh Pietrantonio at 3:27 in OT.
MacDonald, putting up 3 points for Columbus, helped the River Dragons reach their tenth consecutive win.
Tonight’s stars of the game for the River Dragons included Alex Storjahann, Kyle Moore, and Justin MacDonald.
Storjahann scored 1 goal and an assist, compared to Moore’s one goal and two assists.
The Columbus River Dragons will host the Sea Wolves again tomorrow night, where Columbus will celebrate Military Night, as they look to maintain their ten-game win streak.
Photos by: Toni.Hill@ProHockeyNews.com
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